I read the entire volume thinking that while the overly protective father is a bit overused as a trope, the comedy was good and we got to see once more how awesome Ikki is.
Then I thought the Blazers from Cradleland were interesting characters, but the tournament better not take more than a volume, since Ikki and Stella's matches are already decided and while I'm curious to see howctue king fights, I'm not so invested in reading a lot about Ikki training him and the two girls,
Then the author decided that it's time to get serious and give us some tragedy.
Definitely not expected, and it changed completely my impression of this arc. Of course I want this Puppet King to due in the most painful way possible, Ikki better have no mercy for him.
One thing I have to say, the series is going to be more interesting now that the scope is becoming broader than school shenanigans.

As with any book, movie, song, or other work of art, I strongly encourage everyone check it out and draw their own conclusion.

That's all the nice things I have to say.

@Lex I don't see her as the suicidal type, though perhaps in the original timeline she became that disillusioned with the ruling class. We don't know the full story of parts one and two of the game, but perhaps the viscount was finally successful in dispatching her father, leaving her with little will to fight on.

@arghc there was one interview of a JNC contest winner two years back or so. I was expecting more of it. I get that probably not every author is comfortable doing interviews and stuff but at least a summary of how things are and where the contest winners are at now or something like that would make a good newsletter article.
But I am done defending JNC after the whole bait and switch membership fiasco, when I still haven't seen any communication beyond the stock responses. Some of my favourite series are available here and I like the forum community where I get to discuss with other readers. That's what keeps me coming.

The book’s over already… ;_;

Updated the OP to version 0.26.2

This update adds the following edited volumes:

Tearmoon Empire 16 Tearmoon Empire Short Story Collection 1 AOAB Manga P2V11 AOAB Manga P4V6 Apothecary Diaries 16 VTuber Legend 10

It also contains a rework of the Tearmoon Empire omnibus, giving a consistent part->volume->chapter structure, instead of the mixture of some parts splitting chapters by volume and some parts not.

@Paul-Nebeling Vepar seems the obvious candidate. Khimari and Gremory also should get some leftover crests.

@GeorgeMTO I doubt JNC would hold it up, but I could see the publisher adding stipulations to the licensing as anime's are primarily just a form of advertising for the source content, at least from my perspective. I also highly doubt they would license a single volume of a series, unless it is part of a multi-series deal from a single publisher, legal fees are expensive. But definitely possible if there are multiple volumes Earth Star wants translated. Its also possible 15 was already licensed with the last batch of agreements, as the publisher would have know prior to April that the author was contracted to release another volume in the spring. I just tend to be pessimistic and am surprised when a volume appears.

While there's been no official statements from JNC, some of the authors have mentioned working on a v2, though I don't have memory of who has said what off the top of my head.

@Makine I'm under the strong impression that he's adopted and none of them are blood related to him. I think there was something of the sort mentioned in a blink and you'll miss it moment.

As always, best boy is back, Carlos. It's funny to see him ship Fol and makes sense. If a harem ensues Fol has backup, watch out Lofus

Well, after two parts beating up on the other guy's army, it sounds like Shelia has decided that she wants to be Queen of the Monsters rather than Grand Dutchess of Partha. Let's see if Dyphon lets her live.

There are so few sane people in this series.

@George-Wang-a98vag7 said in Dahlia in Bloom Vol. 12 Discussion!:

Dahlia isn't plain, she just lacks distinguishing facial features or any awareness of the opposite sex so she thinks she's plain and nobody is attracted to her even though men were all over her including volf who tries not to be. I think everyone of her female friends tries to tell her. So the artist making her pretty now is accurate.

To be fair, the men who are all over her are that way because of her skill and talents as an inventor. She could look like a deformed goblin and it wouldn't matter. Volf, of course, sees the beauty of her soul, plus she's removing so much of the friction from his life from glasses to flying rings to heater packs not to mention the tasty food. Also, to quote The Sound of Music, “There's nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who is in love with him.” 8-)

I loved the bonus translator's notes. It shows how much work and thought goes into not just translating but also localising without losing the emotions and the spirit of the original!
Thanks a lot to @Kevin-S , the editor and the entire team for bringing this series to us!

side stories fill a much needed role here; worldbuilding, humanizing the characters and creating context for events(maybe sloppy/lazy on author's part, but maybe not? I find them enjoyable but some may argue that more skillful to build into the main story vs flashbacks within flashbacks or side stories.)
NOW we have an idea:

Why Allen's mother is so awesome/intimidating what some of the background events were (his grandmother saluting him as his ship departed etc.) Why Allen is considered such an oddball/so extraordinary as a noble (how other nobles behave- and are educated) how military culture is structured
etc.

if/when we 'meet' these characters again we will have insight as to aspects of their personalities and situations that don't need exposition/asides in the main plot - and we got a healthy dose of foreshadowing

hinted that Al's prosthetic arm will be essentially a self contained GOLEM (and a WAND) made from the monster wood that his wand is made from and the 'core' will be some type of mineral that Allen needs to rediscover in the mine

Turned out quite different from what I was expecting. The protagonist became strong quickly instead of having to grind. The childhood friend wasn't a villain but simply acted like an idiot. They basically made up on the first volume although they are going separate ways.
I had some doubts about Sasha 's role in the story but by the end it seems clear she's going to be the main heroine and I wouldn't be surprised if she and Hyse will eventually become a couple. Which probably also means that despite being another girl in love with Hyse and maybe others in the future I shouldn't expect much romance until the end.
Biggest problem I have so far is that I'm not really interested in reading about Sasha's clan so potentially half of the story will be annoying. Plus the healer should just die, that would make the series much better.

@GeorgeMTO thanks! I hope so!

Not really interested in the manga, honestly. Just tired of series being dropped I'm following.

@zeji13 I think volume 14 is coming in June or July in Japan. There’s also one SS volume.